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You are here: Home / Bird Banding / The Wings of Change

The Wings of Change

September 19, 2020 By Blake Goll

A male Black-throated Blue Warbler (after hatch year) banded 9.17.2020 at Rushton Woods Preserve. Photo by Jennifer Mathes

As wolfish northern winds set out on their hunt for summer, the tips of leaves begin to blush, and the night skies come alive with the wings of millions of birds coursing south through the inky darkness. Just before daylight breaks, these voyagers drop out of the unmarked cloud highway into obscure forested patches below. If they’re lucky, they’ve touched down in sanctuary like that provided by Rushton Woods Preserve where they can dine all day on seeds, berries, or insects and then hit the skyway again by night. Never remaining in one place for long, change is a part of being a bird.

Our banding station has been operating for fall migration for the past three weeks, and change is evident in the masked faces of visitors set back behind a purple rope. It looks like Harold from Harold and the Purple Crayon was busy drawing a line ten feet around our banding table between where our crew works and the visitors watch. One thing remains the same and is visible even on the half faces: the glittering light of fascination and awe that fills their eyes as volunteers bring the wild birds closer to them before release.

Common Yellowthroat being released after banding. Photo by Jennifer Mathes
Volunteer Victoria Sindlinger shows a cardinal to the visitors. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff

Rushton was full of life this week including visitors wanting to learn about the winged creatures with which we share this tumultuous earth and high numbers of migratory birds that rode the crisp fronts south. On Thursday our catch came to a total of 97 birds of a record-breaking 26 species! One net alone was vibrating with 14 birds, six of which were Northern Parula warblers.

Measuring the wing of a Northern Parula banded on 9.17.2020 at Rushton Woods Preserve. Photo by Jennifer Mathes

The other Thursday highlight was the infamous Connecticut Warbler; we catch one to three of these skulkers this time of year each year, which brings the avid birders flocking. Largely a Canadian breeder preferring open larch-spruce bogs, this staid bird graces us with its presence on its way to the tropics, but it is rarely seen because of its habit of lurking among the leaves of dense thickets.

A female Connecticut Warbler banded on 9.17.2020 at Rushton Woods Preserve. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff

Tuesday of last week brought gems including a dashing young male Black-throated Green Warbler, lovely Magnolia Warblers, flashy American Redstarts, and a young Cooper’s Hawk! We also got our first shipment of Swainson’s Thrushes joining ranks with high volumes of our other thrushes including Veery and Wood Thrush. September 3rd brought our major highlight of the season so far: our first ever Blue Grosbeak and the 100th species for the station!

A male American Redstart (after hatch year) banded 9.15.2020 at Rushton Woods Preserve. Photo by Jennifer Mathes
A male Magnolia Warbler (after hatch year) banded 9.15.2020 at Rushton. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff
A male Black-throated Green Warbler (hatch year) banded on 9.15.2020. Photo by Jennifer Mathes
Chestnut-sided Warbler banded 9.8.2020. Photo by Kirsten Snyder
A Cooper’s Hawk (hatch year) captured at Rushton Woods Preserve on 9.15.2020. Photo by Jennifer Mathes
Veery banded on 9.15.2020. Photo by Jennifer Mathes
Brown Thrasher (hatch year) banded on 9.17.2020 at Rushton. Photo by Jennifer Mathes
Blue Grosbeak (second year male) banded on 9.3.2020 at Rushton. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff

Fall migration is in full swing, and we’ll be tracking the wings of change through the last week of October. If you’d like to visit us on a Thursday to see firsthand how our conserved land is helping migratory bird species, please register on our events page.

No matter where you are in life—whether making your way across dark skies or enjoying rest in a green oasis—remember there’s a lot going on in the woods.

Blake

A very young Gray Catbird (hatch year) banded last week. Photo by Jennifer Mathes

Filed Under: Bird Banding, Bird Conservation, Bird ecology Tagged With: Bird banding, Connecticut Warbler, fall migration, land conservation, migration

OUR NATURE PRESERVES

Our nature preserves are open to the public 365 days per year from sunrise to sunset, providing natural places that offer peace and respite for all. Willistown Conservation Trust owns and manages three nature preserves in the Willistown area - Ashbridge, Kirkwood and Rushton Woods Preserve. We maintain these lands for the … Learn more about our nature preserves.

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